What kiddo hasn't dreamed about what it would be like to be an actual spy? Read Spy Camp to find out how kids actually become spies. For more information about this book, check out the web resources below.

I am so excited to finally be able to blog about Rump. This was my absolute favorite book from this year's Bluebonnet list. It gives a new perspective to the old fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin. It tells the story from Rump's perspective and readers will discover that perhaps Rumpelstiltskin is not as bad as the fairy tales make him out to be. If you enjoy the fantasy genre and fairy tales, you will love this book. It is a great read for both boys and girls. For more information about this book, check out the web resources below.

Read Rebel McKenzie to find out what happens when a seemingly nerdy child paleontologist enters a beauty pageant to raise money for summer camp. Rebel finds out a lot about herself and encounters some adversity along the way. For more information about this book, please check out the web resources below:

Pickle by Kim Baker is a great choice for both boys and girls to read. It is a short novel and keeps the reader's interest until the end. A middle school student, Ben, pulls such a successful prank that he is encouraged by his peers to start a club that pulls pranks on the school at random times. Not only is this book about pranks, it is also about making new friends and learning the value of true friends. I really enjoyed this book and think that you will too. For more information on Pickle, check out the web resources below.

I absolutely love Jarrett Krosoczka's books. His picture books are amazing and Punk Farm will always be one of my favorites. I was able to read Platypus Police Squad this summer and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. It is written in a gritty detective style but is completely 100% appropriate for kids. There is a lot of detective lingo in the book and that makes it really fun to read. It also has several pictures. I think that this is a great choice for boys to read. Check out the web resources below for more information about this book.

Odette's Secrets is a very good book. If you are interested in learning more about the Holocaust, this would be a great book to read. It is different from other Holocaust novels because it is written in verse (poetry) form. It is based on a true story and has a lot of interesting notes/stories in the back of the book. For more information about this book please check out the web resources below:

Hidden in Plain Sight – Anagrams:This can be used as a worksheet or a more kinesthetic activity by making letters of the alphabet from poster board and have children hold them as the audience directs their movement to try to find the hidden word.

And now the news…:Make a TV screen from a large cardboard box and use it to “broadcast” news of the war. Children can write news announcements using the timeline in the back of the book.Directions to make a TV set.

Star of David suncatcher:Construct this and hang it as a remembrance of the Jewish children who were hidden and survived to be reunited with their families, the children who survived as orphans, and the children who were killed in the Holocaust. Their only crime was being born Jewish.

If you are interested in ocean life, then this is the book for you. This novel is set in a futuristic world where the negative effects of global warming have had dire consequences for all of the species on Earth. One brave girl sets out to do her part to save the world. Find out what happens by reading The Neptune Project. For more information about this book, check out the web resources below.

RELATED ACTIVITIES & RESOURCES

Polly Holyoke’s homepage. This site includes information about the author, a synopsis of The Neptune Project and information on the sequel. Ms. Holyoke’s website has vast resources on dolphins, sharks, and other ocean life. She has included links to sites with vast amounts of information:www.pollyholyoke.com

This book is a graphic novel, which means comic book style. It is well written and interesting but was definitely not my favorite book from this year's list. It takes place during the Revolutionary War and students will learn many important facts about this time period from this book. It does have a little bit of fantasy mixed in with the history however. For more information about this book, check out the web resources below:

Monsieur Marceau is one of the picture books from this year's list. This would be a great Bluebonnet selection if you are looking for a shorter book to read. It tells the story of one of the most famous mimes of all time: Marcel Marceau. To learn more about this book and mimes, check out all of the cool websites below.